Haseung Joung (Global Affairs ’21) and Seihoon Lee (Global Affairs ’21) represented George Mason University Korea in the 2018 WFUNA College Leaders at the United Nations: Korea Program from April to August. As two of 25 Korean students selected from 15 US and Korean institutions, they researched specific sustainable development goals (SDGs) 2030 and presented their policy recommendations to staff members at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and UN member Missions at the New York UN Headquarters. The Voice decided to interview the students about their notable experience.
Q. How did you get to know about the opportunity and become interested?
H: I have always been interested in international issues and the UN, and was aware that Mason Korea was part of the program even before I was accepted. But, I wanted to spend my freshman year getting used to the university and building my knowledge. Once I saw posters about the program around school this year, I decided to send in my application.
S: I was aware of the program since my first semester, but, I felt that I was not prepared and that I needed to grow in knowledge to be able to actively participate in the program, thus compelling me to discover the world of the UN through this program.
Q. Could you explain the preparation process for the journey to the UN after you were selected?
H&S: The whole program is a four-month journey. We had three weeks of training in Seoul which consisted of lectures about the assigned SDGs and honing professional skills such as how to communicate with professionals. During the training, we were given time to think about our targeted area of research in the realm of the SDGs.
After teams were organized based on each SDG, we went into a three-month period of preparing for our presentation in New York. We were supposed to find a topic with a target relevant to the assigned SDG and develop an action plan accordingly.
After furnishing our presentation in Korea, we headed off to NYC to begin the real program. The program in NYC consisted of UN tours, lectures and sessions with UN professionals, NGO founders, and UN delegates from various countries. All of the sessions were based on our topics that the teams were researching. In our free time, we had time to prepare and finalize our presentations and tour New York.
Q. How was the whole experience and what was the most impressive part?
H: I can say with confidence that it was one of the highlights of my year. Through this process, I learned so much from incredible people and gained confidence in the path I am on. Other than the professional lessons, I also gained personal life lessons by working with people from diverse disciplines and backgrounds. I gained insight and different perspectives on various issues.
S: The experience was fantastic. It was a special time for me to think about my possible career in the United Nations and find out whether it fits me or not. Also, I was surprised by the fact that the characteristics of the United Nations system almost resembles a national government. The whole session equipped me with critical thinking skills. The program was also a great platform to network with different Korean people. I had the honor of working with such talented and intelligent students from various universities.
Q. What would you tell GMUK students to prepare for if they are interested in participating in the program?
H: Above all, be confident! I think one of the most memorable lessons I learned through this program is that being active, asking lots of questions and showing your assets in a confident and professional manner will take you a long way. This program gives you a platform to practice and hone those skills, which are crucial for the future! You gain results based on how much effort you put in. You can either make it a couple of months working on a presentation, or make it into an opportunity to transform this experience into something bigger. So, immerse yourself and make it your own.
S: I would recommend this program to any of the students at GMUK who want a glimpse of the UN. After this program, I think the phrase “to reach out to people and actively try things that interest you” is ultimately true. If we do not connect with the Korean environment, it is difficult to figure out your way in Korea after graduation. Since we live in a hybrid environment that contains both Korean and American elements, it is essential to experience different sectors through extracurricular activities. The WFUNA College Leaders of the United Nations is appropriate for such means. You never know what you might experience.
August 10, 2018
